SEDENTARY BEHAVIORS AND COGNITION: DOES THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR MATTER?

Abstract Older adults spend 80% of their waking hours performing sedentary behaviors (SBs) that are either mentally active (e.g., using computers, socializing, and completing hobbies) or passive (e.g., television viewing and resting). Cross-sectional studies report an association between passive SB participation and cognitive impairments. However, longitudinal impact of baseline SB participation on cognition is unclear. We addressed this gap by using the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) dataset to run competing risks proportional hazards models. In our models, participants were identified as having an event (i.e., outcome) if their cognition scores dropped ≤ 1.5 standard deviations (SD) below the mean during follow-up (rounds 7-11, years 2017-2021). Competing risks included moving to long-term care facilities or dying. Our analyses included 1,574 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 84, SD = 7.1) who completed the sedentary module included in round 6 (year 2016) and had intact orientation, recall, and executive function at baseline. The majority of participants were female (55%) and non-Hispanic white (78%), and reported good or excellent health (80%). We identified that participating in active SBs had a protective effect on orientation, recall, and executive function (subdistribution hazard ratios [SHR]= 0.28-0.46, p< 0.001-0.02). Activities that had significant protective effects across all models included using computers (SHR =0.15-0.46, p=< 0.001-0.001) and socializing (SHR=0.27-0.52, p= < 0.001-0.05). Passive SBs did not have significant SHRs. Our identified protective effects highlight the potential of preventing cognitive impairments through active SB programs. Intervention studies are needed to develop program protocols and identify effectiveness of active SB programs.

whether racial/ethnic differences in changes in cognition over a 12-year period (2006-2018) were mediated by physical activity using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 16,777, mean baseline age = 66.0 years).Structural equation modeling was used to estimate a latent growth curve model of changes in cognitive scores (27-item TICS) and investigate whether the relationship of race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White) to change in cognition was mediated by physical activity after controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, personal wealth, and insurance coverage.Results indicated that Blacks engaged in significantly lower levels of physical activity than Whites (b = -.176,♌ = -.123,p < .001),but there were no differences between Hispanics and Whites (b = .028,♌ = .017,ns).Physical activity significantly predicted higher initial cognitive scores (b = 5.205, ♌ = .610,p < .001)and less decline in cognitive scores over time (b = 1.063, ♌ = .796,p < .001).The indirect (mediational) effect for the Black vs. White comparison on changes in cognitive score was significant (b = .187,♌ = .152,95% CI [.135,.244]).These results provide important new information for understanding how physical activity, a modifiable lifestyle factor, may help explain racial/ethnic disparities in cognitive decline in middle and later life, suggesting greater need to reduce sedentary behavior and increase activity.The increase in life expectancy over the years has triggered both researchers and the aging population to focus more on achieving an active engagement with life.This ability to perform daily living activities (functionality) is a key component in healthy aging which aids older adults live independently with or without disease and disability.Gaining insight into the key elements that enhance physical functioning is necessary as the issue of limited physical functioning affects not only older adults but also, middle aged adults.This study examines the predictors of everyday functioning, Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) among 1920 older adults using data from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study.ADLs and IADLs were self-reported.Results of the hierarchical linear regression at baseline indicate that, being female and being African American significantly predict lower performance on everyday functioning, after adjusting for age and years of education.Fewer falls in the past 2 months, better cognition and normal weight significantly predict high performance on everyday functioning (all p < .05).For ADLs, being African American and female gender significantly predict higher scores on ADLs while female gender predicted lower scores on IADLs.There were no differences on living arrangements and access to healthcare on everyday functioning, ADLs and IADLs.43.1% of variability in IADLs were explained by the predictors.Findings from this study identify target populations for interventions to promote active engagement with life.

RETIREMENT AND COGNITION: EXAMINING THE MENTAL RETIREMENT CONCEPT
Britney Veal 1 , Hongdao Meng 1 , and Ross Andel 2 , 1. University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States,

Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States
The concept of "mental retirement" posits that those approaching retirement experience less incentives to continue to engage with work, which is expressed as the so called "on-the-job" retirement effect, leading to negative changes in cognition.To test this notion, we set out to examine if participants who were about to voluntarily retire would have worse cognitive performance compared to those who continued working.We used members of the Health and Retirement Study who reported voluntarily retirement (n=333) in 2008 compared to those who continued working (n=2424).Cognition was assessed at four and two years prior to 2008 and in 2008.Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted with sociodemographic characteristics, chronic conditions, and baseline ( 2002) cognition as the covariates.Those who retired in 2008 and those who continued working varied on average age, 62.1±6.1 years vs. 60.7±6.1 years, p<.001, sex, 39% men vs. 45% men, p=.04, and average years of education, 13.3±2.6 years vs. 13.6±2.6,p=.04.ANCOVA results showed no significant betweengroup differences four years before retirement, F(1, 2669) = 0.00, p=.96, significantly worse cognitive scores among those who were planning to retire in two years compared to those who remained in the workforce, F(1, 2645) = 4.75, p=.03, and smaller, non-significant group differences in 2008, F(1, 2730) = 1.69, p=.19.These results support the existence of the "on-the-job" retirement effect, whereby the expectation of retired is accompanied by reduction in cognitive functioning, although it remains unclear whether this effect carries into retirement and/or under what circumstances.

SEDENTARY BEHAVIORS AND COGNITION: DOES THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR MATTER?
Mariana Wingood 1 , Erin Bouldin 2 , and Nancy Gell 3 , 1. Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 2. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 3. University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States Older adults spend 80% of their waking hours performing sedentary behaviors (SBs) that are either mentally active (e.g., using computers, socializing, and completing hobbies) or passive (e.g., television viewing and resting).Cross-sectional studies report an association between passive SB participation and cognitive impairments.However, longitudinal impact of baseline SB participation on cognition is unclear.We addressed this gap by using the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) dataset to run competing risks proportional hazards models.In our models, participants were identified as having an event (i.e., outcome) if their cognition scores dropped ≤ 1.5 standard deviations (SD) below the mean during follow-up (rounds 7-11, years 2017-2021).Competing risks included moving to long-term care facilities or dying.Our analyses included 1,574 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 84, SD = 7.1) who completed the sedentary module included in round 6 (year 2016) and had intact orientation, recall, and executive function at baseline.The majority of participants were female (55%) and non-Hispanic white (78%), and reported good or excellent health (80%).We identified that participating in active SBs had a protective effect on orientation, recall, and executive function (subdistribution hazard ratios [SHR]= 0.28-0.46,p< 0.001-0.02).Activities that had significant protective effects across all models included using computers (SHR =0.15-0.46,p=< 0.001-0.001)and socializing (SHR=0.27-0.52,p= < 0.001-0.05).Passive SBs did not have significant SHRs.Our identified protective effects highlight the potential of preventing cognitive impairments through active SB programs.Intervention studies are needed to develop program protocols and identify effectiveness of active SB programs.Long-term negative impacts of chronic stress on memory has been well established; however day-to-day associations between stressors and memory have not been fully examined, with lack of understanding on specific manifestations of stressors that may degrade daily memory.This study conceptualized three patterns of daily stressors: variety, severity, and irregularity.Data came from 1,132 adults who participated in an 8-day diary study as part of the Midlife in the United States study.Participants reported 7 types of stressors (e.g., work-related, home-related, discrimination) they encountered, which was summed daily (variety).On days when a stressor was encountered, they reported how stressful it was (severity).Individual standard deviation of stressor severity across the week (irregularity) was also calculated.Memory lapses were reported with 9 items each day.Results from multi-level modeling revealed that, at the within-person level, participants reported more memory lapses on days when they had greater variety (B= 0.126, SE=0.014, p<.001) or higher severity (B=0.071,SE=0.014, p<.001) of stressors.At the betweenperson level, participants with greater variety (B=0.717,SE=0.052, p<.001), higher severity (B= 0.168, SE= 0.031, p<.001), or greater irregularity (B= 0.141, SE= 0.047, p=.003) of stressors reported more memory lapses on average.These results were found after controlling for sociodemographic and health covariates.These findings highlight that even shortterm stress, particularly severe or inconsistent stress may have a negative impact on day-to-day memory.Potential differences between older (age 65+) and younger (below age 65) adults in the relationship between these daily stressors and memory lapses are currently being explored.

THE DYNAMIC AND RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATION AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN LATER LIFE
Takashi Amano 1 , Yuane Jia 1 , and Audrey Redding-Raines 2 , 1. Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, United States, 2. Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, New Jersey, United States Studies have suggested that perceived discrimination is a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive health in later life.However, there is a lack of focus in the literature on the changes and directionality of the relationship between these two constructs.This study, based on socioemotional selectivity theory, investigates the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between perceived discrimination and cognitive function in later life.Data were drawn from four waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS;2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018).We utilized a subsample of respondents who completed the psychosocial and lifestyle questionnaire in at least three waves.A total of 4,101 people who were 51 and older were included.Cognitive function was measured by the abbreviated version of the telephone interview for cognitive status (TICS-27).Perceived discrimination was measured using scores of the perceived everyday discrimination scale.Random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was utilized.Age was associated with lower perceived discrimination (b=-0.224,p<.0001).While lower cognitive function was cross-sectionally associated with higher perceived discrimination in all racial/ethnic groups, higher everyday discrimination predicted subsequent lower cognitive function only among White respondents.The model fit statistics were favorable: CFI=0.968;SRMR=0.045.Results suggested that a decline in cognitive function may exacerbate perceived discrimination which may result in further reduction of cognitive function in general.Lifetime experience of discrimination was discussed as a possible source of the racial/ethnic variations in the relationship.Further study is needed to examine whether this relationship holds among people with cognitive impairment or dementia.